Electromagnetism

The theme this month is Electromagnetism and it comes from a suggestion from dougw. Your electronics & design project can be anything that uses the force of electromagnetism. This includes anything from motors to solenoids to wireless power transfer. An electromagnetic force usually exhibits electromagnetic fields such as electric fields, magnetic fields, and light, and is one of the four fundamental interactions (commonly called forces) in nature. The four forces of nature are gravity, electromagnetism (electricity and magnetism), strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force. Your project can involve anything within the electromagnetic spectrum, including projects that involve gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, infrared, visible light, microwave, and radio waves. For example, your project could involve light or radar. Light is an electromagnetic wave and can travel through the vacuum of outer space. Radar uses radio waves, which are a type of electromagnetic energy.

You could build a motor that demonstrates electromagnetic induction or do a solenoid project. A basic solenoid can be used to push or pull a magnetized rod, charge a magnet or generate electricity. You can use your solenoid to magnetize tools such as a screwdriver to keep screws from getting away. The solenoid can even act as a generator. Whatever you do with your solenoid, make sure that you do it carefully. or projects involving wireless power transfer. Wireless power transfer is a form of electromagnetic induction which is widely used. For example, unconnected induction coils are at the heart of transformers in television sets, smartphones, energy-saving lamps, power lines, etc. By increasing or decreasing the alternating voltage in the electrical grid and individual devices, transformers enable efficient power transmission and the operation of consumer electronics. Modern technology uses electromagnetism in ways analogous to those proposed by Nikola Tesla in the mid-19th century. Technology is far enough caught up to begin realizing the world he envisioned. One that could supply power to the world without the need for a tangle of wires strung everywhere. It can be seen in all sorts of things, from wireless charging pads for phones, to electric cars.

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The theme this month is Home Automation and its based on a suggestion from phoenixcomm . Anything goes as long as your project involves home automation. You can use this as an opportunity to give your habitat a personality by doing a project that involves artificial intelligence, machine learning, automated comfort control, security features, or voice assistance. Another source of inspiration for this theme comes from phoenixcomm 's idea to use this theme to pay homage to a habitat with a personality, S.A.R.A.H. (Self actuated Residential Automated Housing), from the 2016 show Eureka.

S.A.R.A.H. is a home with "artificial intelligence" that is built inside an abandoned fallout shelter. It utilizes parts of an existing parts of a military program called BRAD (Battle Reactive Automatic Defense), which like Joshua, aka WORP (War Operation Response Plan), in the 1983 movie War Games, is a supercomputer based on a two-dimensional war game.

S.A.R.A.H is powered by a radioisotope thermal nuclear generator. It was designed to be an "artificially intelligent" Home of the Future in 2016. It comes equip with a laser defense system, various airtight partitions, a filtered air intake, and has the ability to analyze airborne material. Among the perks that S.A.R.A.H. offers her guests are the ability to open and close sealed doors, control internal temperature, offers a really good massage, and provides a variety of drinks. Among her many talents is automating a perfectly poured pint of beer! Building a supercomputer with artificial intelligence is a definitely one way that you can build a home automation device that gives your habitat a personality. Both S.A.R.A.H. and Joshua are examples of supercomputers with personality, so is the supercomputer that Gus Gorman built in the 1983 film Superman 3.

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The theme this month is Wearable Tech and its based on suggestion from fmilburn . He reminded us that costumes are not just for Halloween , they are universal to all cultures and celebrations. Earlier this year, the community was introduced to 9 year old boy named Cody and a collaborative project dubbed Project C.O.D.I., an acronym for Computerized Obstacle Detection Interface. The goal of the project was to build a an assistive technology into a to superhero costume. The project used an Arduino and was open sourced, with the idea that you can help the many by focusing on solutions for the few.